Newsletter

Rare plant theft baffles S.C. law enforcement

COLUMBIA — Nearly two weeks after state officials offered a $500 reward for information to help catch an endangered-plant thief, law enforcement has received no tips or leads.

“This was not a case of someone picking up a single plant out of curiosity,” said a statement from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. “Whoever stole the plants came prepared with tools to cut, dig and remove the plants en masse.”

On March 23, the DNR staff discovered a section of endangered bunched arrowhead plants missing from the Bunched Arrowhead Heritage Preserve in Greenville County. It is believed someone poached the plants between March 20-23.

State DNR spokesman Brett Witt said such theft is uncommon.

“Typically it’s going to be something like the Venus flytraps down at Lewis Ocean Bay in Horry County or the carnivorous pitcher plants at Shealy’s Pond in Lexington County. Not all that rare, but collectable because of how unusual they are.”

The theft of the bunched arrowhead is covered under the federal Endangered Species Act.

There is an active black market for rare plants, said Kathryn Kennedy, executive director of the Center for Plant Conservation, a network of 38 botanic institutions, which is based at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis.

“Illegal collection is a definite threat to many of our rarest endangered plants, from bromeliads and pitcher plants to cacti, orchids, etc.,” said Kennedy in an email Wednesday.

“Collectors are obsessive and disregard state and federal law, as well as damaging precious places and resources.

She said stealing plants from state and national parks and other public lands also constitutes stealing from taxpayers.

In 1979 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared the small wetland plant in need of protection by the Endangered Species Act. The flower is found only in two counties in the world: Greenville County in South Carolina and Henderson County in North Carolina, according to SC DNR.

“The magnitude of removing an adult, reproducing plant from a wild site is much greater than most ‘diggers; might perceive,” said Kennedy.

“You have removed not only that plant, but also all the progeny it might otherwise contribute to succeeding generations that help these small populations, jewels of our national flora really, to persist in the wild.”

Anyone with information regarding the theft or location of the plants is encouraged to call Operation Game Thief at 1-800-922-5431. Callers can remain anonymous.